Looking for a more flexibility out of your Sumovore? Well, welcome to the
next in our series of brainboards - the ATMega8L. The ATMega8L offers
an impressive list of features, including (but not limited to):
!
8kB flash memory
!
Three Pulse-width modulation (PWM) channels
!
Six Analog-to-digital converters (ADCs)
!
In-circuit programmable
!
Internal RC oscillator (optional resonator needed to surpass 8MHz)
!
23 programmable Input/Output (I/O) lines
2
!
I C protocol for sensor networking
!
Single clock execution up to 1MIPs/MHz (this means “it’s QUICK”, like
250 times faster than a standard Basic Stamp 2!)
We’ve made good use of the capabilities of the ATMega8L, but there’s lots
more you can do with it, including program it with the free open-source
GCC C-compiler (our weapon of choice) or other compilers for BASIC,
JAL, Java, Assembler, Pascal, Forth,... it goes on and on!
This is
not
a kit for a microcontroller beginner. Anybody using this
brainboard should have the appropriate skills, or be ready to learn the
techniques that make a microcontroller... microcontrol!
This kit lets you swap out the default discrete brainboard for a
programmable version. If you run into any problems, it’s a simple process
to swap a different brain back in. We’ve had days when it’d be nice to swap
in a new brain, haven’t you?
This brainboard features:
!
Atmel ATMega8L microcontroller
!
5 indicator LEDs & 1 programming LED indicator
!
STK500 and SP-12 programming headers
!
Microprocessor Reset Switch
!
Standard 0.1” expansion interface holes for breadboard add-ons
!
Expansion interface featuring:
!
5 digital / interrupt I/O (Port D 2-6, shared with LED indicators)
!
5 analog inputs / digital I/O (Ports C 0-4, shared with line sensors)
2
!
I C Bus
!
Regulated 5V and Raw 6V
!
Access to the microcontroller serial interface (level shifting req’d)
Introduction
The ATMega8L Brainboard